That was the question—with respect to the global problems we currently face—that Tom Brokaw posed to the spectacular panel at "Enhancing the U.S.'s Role in the World," sponsored by t
Everything to make our population more sustainable is less than a token measure when that population is still growing. www.project-canada.com/Biomass.jpg shows why. There is a finite available biomass on the earth. and humanity and the species it utilises as resources take up ever more biomass. Logically then, other species go extinct when less remains for them. Technological advancements to feed more people will only lead to the collapse of the community of life. Read Quinn's "Ishmael" and see!
Americans spend carbons on The Perfect Lawn. But lawns reflect sunlight and intensify the surface heat, and that costs us energy in air conditioning. Before the lawnmower, grannies had head-tall holleyhocks and waist-high daisys instead. And the biomass naturally cooled and retained moisture in the soil, so watering wasn't necessary. Plus, the lush biomass cut the breeze and was aesthetic. I'm proposing that we popularize the cottage garden... also encouraging fruit trees and edible plants.
